The first, second and fourth Henleys (DD-39, DD-391, DD-762) were named for Robert Henley, born 5 January 1783 in Williamsburg, Ara., son of Leonard and Elizabeth Dandridge Henley and nephew of Martha Dandridge Custis Washington. Appointed a midshipman 8 April 1799, Henley participated in the engagement between Constellation and La Vengeance during the Quasi-War with France 2 February 1800. After service with Preble's squadron in the Mediterranean and a cruise to the East Indies, Henley received his first command, Gunboat No. 5, at Baltimore 9 April 1808. Henley was in command of 2 divisions of 15 gunboats which drove 3 British frigates from Hampton Roads 20 June 1813. Reporting to brig Eagle, he received the thanks of Congress and a gold medal for valiant conduct in the Battle of Lake Champlain 11 September 1814. With the end of-the War of 1812, Henley filled a variety of billets before commanding Hornet against pirates in the West Indies. He captured pirate schooner Moscow off Santo Domingo 29 October 1821. After serving as commandant of the Naval Rendezvous at Norfolk 1822 to 1824, he reported for similar duty at Charleston. Captain Robert Henley died at Sullivan's Island, Charleston, after a short illness 7 October 1828.

Bill Gonyo

160k

Undated, location unknown. Photo marked as NHC #93697, from the collection of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.

Darryl Baker

179k

Undated, location unknown. Photo from the collection of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.

Darryl Baker

115k

Undated starboard broadside view of the USS Henley (DD-39) on patrol in New York Harbor. Library of Congress; LC-B2- 4108-11.

Photo #: NH 79529, U.S. Atlantic Fleet at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 6 April 1919. Leftmost section of a seven-part reproduction of a panoramic photograph taken by L.C. Grant, with the Falk Photo Company, Boston, Massachusetts. Among the ships present in this image are USS Shawmut (minelayer), in the center, and USS Henley (Destroyer # 39), at right. Courtesy of the St. Louis Memorial Museum, St. Louis, Missouri, 1974. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Paul Rebold

42k

Circa 1924, location unknown.

Robert Hurst

25k

On Coast Guard service during the Prohibition Era, from the Official Coast Guard Website.

Mike Green

114k

On Coast Guard service after a fire in the Aft Boiler Room, February 10 1929. Leslie Jones Collection, Boston Public Library.

Ed Zajkowski

91k

As above. Leslie Jones Collection, Boston Public Library.

Ed Zajkowski

USS HENLEY DD-39 History
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